Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-13
THE WATER SYSTEM.
An Untimited Supply of Purest Stream
for Man, Land and Beast.

anywhere. From the north comes the
great river, the Sacramento which has it
sources in the mountains of the extreme |
northern portion of the State. Receiving
the waters of its thousand tributaries, |
which together drain a country larger |
than many of the older States of the |
Union, it unites them in one mighty vol |
ume, and after breaking through the high |
mountain barriers which barred its way |
1t rolls down through the Golden Gate |
to the sea. Between it banks the |
for more than a hundred miles, and |
the mountains feet. 1t is great high |
way Of commerce to and from the ocean, |
and it insures low rates of transportation |
so long as its current goes down through |
the Golden Gate. The upper portion of |
the Sacramento is one of the clearest |
streams on the continent. Its great vol |
ume of water in summer is made up from |
the countless springs that break forth from |
the hill and mountain sides and in the |
valleys of a country larger than the EN- |
pire State, and from the melting SHOWS of
the higher Sierra Nevada This stream
furnishes navigation and water power for |
great mills and factories, and an unlimited
supply of water for all the purposes of |
agriculture.
TRIBUTARIES OF THE SACRAMENTO.
Its tributaries in Tehama county are
numerous, and carry large volumes of
water. On the eastern side there is Bat
tie creek, which forms the northern bound |
AIRY of the county. 1t takes its rise high
upon the northern side of Lassen Peak, |
one of the topmost elevations of the Sierras |
1t has numerous tributaries and runs
nearly full bank through the whole sum-
mer. There are several smaller streams
south of Battle creek that water a consid-
cradle extent of country.
ANTELOPE CREEK
Takes its rise on the western slope of Las
sen Peak, in several deep canyons, where
snow and ice, partially protected from an
almost tropical sun, remain nearly all sum-
mer This is beautiful, clear mountain
stream, and it carries several thousand
inches of water in the dryest season. Its
water is clear, cool, pure and soft, and it
furnishes Red Bluff with an ample water
supply. 1t also waters great area of the
best grazing and farming country Its
general course from its source is southwest,
till it reaches the valley of the Sacra-
mento. At the mouth of the canyon that
opens into the valley it divides into several
streams that flow through and water the
valley lands for several miles. The next
stream south is
MILL CREEK,
Which rises on the southern side of Lassen
DanJ- =. Al
lope creek, and carries a larger volume of
water then any other tributary of the Sac
ramento between the Pit, on the north
and the Feather, on the south. 1t is a
clear, rapid stream, and carries water
enough, even at its lowest stages, to fur
nish power for great mills and factories, or
to irrigate several thousand acres of land.
South of Mill creek is
DEER CREEK,
Which forms the northern boundary of the
celebrated Nina tract This stream rises
In the high Sierras, south of Lassen Peak.
This stream, too, has its source in the great
canyons and gorges that lie buried deep in
the mountain sides. In those CANYONS aud
gorges, some of them hundreds of feet
deep, the SHOWS are blown, and under the
action of the sun they form solid masses,
almost glaciers in character. From these
great reservoirs of nature vast volumes of
water are liberated by the summers heat.
By that means Deer creek is a full banked
stream all summer. 1t is, like Antelope
and Mill creeks, a clear, cold and rapid
stream. 1t furnishes water enough to irri-
gate many thousands of acres of land.
There are now two hundred miles of irri-
eating bitches carrying water from the
stream, and as much more water as they
carry goes to waste. South Of Deer creek is
PINE CREEK,
Which rises in the foothills of the noun
tains. 1t carries considerable water in some
| seasons Of the year, but it does not bear COM
parison with the other streams, which are
| snow-fed through the summer 1t is safe
to say that there are no streams in this
State that carry purer water; that run
fuller banked through the summer: that
are more valuable for the purposes of
| running machinery, for irrigation and for
domestic use, than these mentioned There
is no portion of the Pacific coast better
watered than the eastern portion of Te-
hama county.
THE WATER SYSTEM OF THE WESTERN
FART OF THE COUNTY,
Is much more extensive than that
east Of the Sacramento river All the
streams forming that water system have
their sources in the Coast Range or its
foothills. This Coast Range rises to an
| elevation of 5000 feet, and its eastern de-
clivities present long slopes, forming i'm
mense drainage basins, which give rise to
q great number of streams
ON THE NORTH Is COTTONWOOD CREEK,
Which forms the northern boundary of
the county, and takes its rise in the high
est portion of the Coast Range. 1t has
three principal tributaries, which drain
large area of country, Its course is east,
and II waters an extensive farming and
grazing country, which offers good induce
ments to home-seekers. South of the Cot
tonwood are Hooker and Dibble creeks.
which rise in the foothills.
REEDS CREEK Is A LARGE STREAM
That drains a great land basin west of Red
Bluff. 1t rises in the higher foothills, and
has great number of feeders, which fur
nish water to a large area of country.
which is being rapidly developed. South
of this stream is the Red Bank, which rises
in the Coast range, and has several tribu
taries that drain large extent of country.
South of. Red Bank are Oat, Coyote and
Duncan creeks, and Government gulch
all important streams and draining large
area of country.
ELDER. THoMEs AND STONY CREEKS.
South Of these is Elder creek, rising in
the higher Coast Range and draining
great mountain region. South of this is
Thomes creek, named after one of the set
tiers of the county, who antedated the
golden era by several years. This is
large stream, and rises high in the noun
tains. South of this there are many
smaller streams which furnish water for
stock and domestic purposes.
In the extreme southern portion of the
county is Stony creek, which rises in Co
lusa county and runs north into Tehama.
and then, turning south, empties into the
Sacramento in Colusa county.
OTHER WATER SOURCES.
Besides the streams named, there are
many more smaller streams fed from
springs that abound everywhere. In all